Celebrate Good Times

Hi, Friends! There’s a feeling of celebration in the air, isn’t there? Kids (& teachers!) are in full summer break mode, graduates are beaming with pride and excitement for their future, and the summer solstice brings the longest day of the year, along with the spark of a bright season ahead.

Perhaps no one is celebrating more than my Old Mill Road Media colleague, Benjamin Lerner, a recovery advocate, dad, and musician who inspires me daily. I’ve said it before– it takes a great deal of bravery to be raw and vulnerable, sharing intimate details of a life in both active addiction and now in recovery, supported by his wonderful family. I love seeing Benjamin’s beaming face, smiling from ear to ear as he poses with his beautiful boys, Jude and Max, and his lovely partner, Alex. Every family photo is a symbol of love and triumph. 

Benjamin has SO much to celebrate right now.

Jude, his eldest son, just turned 3 years old on June 7! 

On June 10, Benjamin and Alex got engaged! CONGRATULATIONS to the happy couple!

Benjamin then honored the 9th anniversary of his sobriety on June 13. 

And here’s some MORE special news: Benjamin will be making his Berkshire debut at Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, MA on September 3! Save the Date for Benjamin Lerner: Performer. The proceeds from the one-night-only benefit concert will go to 3 local organizations: BSC’s Musical Theatre Lab, Living in Recovery, and George B. Crane Memorial Center.

Read the full Press Release below:

Benjamin Lerner (Musician, Recovery Advocate, and Viral Content Creator) to Perform Benefit Concert at Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on September 3, 2025

[East Arlington, Vermont]—Nationally recognized musician, social media content creator, writer, radio host, and recovery advocate Benjamin Lerner will take the stage for a powerful one- night-only concert of his new show PERFORMER on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at The Boyd-Quinson Stage at Barrington Stage Company (BSC) in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

As a recovering IV fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine addict, now sober since June 13, 2016, Lerner fearlessly channels the lessons he has learned over the course of his sobriety into his music, combining elements of Hip-Hop, Classical Piano, Spoken Word, Jazz, Folk, and Melodic Standards to create a unique and powerful sound. Lerner brings audiences on a musical journey that traces his struggle with addiction and his inspiring path to recovery.

All proceeds from this special concert will support three Berkshire-based organizations that play vital roles in fostering artistry, creative voices, and recovery: BSC's Musical Theatre Lab, which nurtures emerging musical theater voices; the George B. Crane Memorial Center, a local nonprofit dedicated to offering addiction recovery support through peer recovery groups and community outreach programs; and Living in Recovery, a peer-driven, peer-led nonprofit focused on helping individuals maintain recovery, rebuild their lives, and connect with the greater community through social events, peer support groups, and community advocacy.

“We are excited to welcome Benjamin for his debut at the Barrington Stage Company,” said Alan Paul, Artistic Director of BSC. “The arts are a powerful force for change and can significantly impact society, and we are eager to share his voice with our community.”

Lerner adds, “I’m committed to sharing my story of addiction and recovery, in the hopes of raising community awareness. I am honored that BSC, the George B. Crane Memorial Center, and Living in Recovery, are giving me the opportunity to share my platform with the Berkshire community on this powerful multi-organizational initiative.”

“Benjamin’s story is unique,” says Dr. Joshua Sherman, CEO of Old Mill Road Media and Publisher of Berkshire Magazine, “but if there’s anything I’ve learned in working with him since 2018, is that when Benjamin shares his story, he creates a space in which others can share their stories of how addiction has affected their lives.”

Tickets are now on sale at: barringtonstagecompany2.thundertix.com/events/249541

About BENJAMIN LERNER:

Benjamin Lerner, the Great-grandson of Irving Berlin (composer of such iconic tunes as “God Bless America” and “White Christmas”), is a Vermont-based Rapper, Composer, Writer, Recovery Advocate, Radio Host, and Viral Content Creator.

Benjamin started his musical career as a classical piano prodigy. By his early twenties, he was an IV fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine addict. Now sober since June 13, 2016, he journals his journey in addiction and sobriety in his signature piano-raps, which combine classical piano and Hip-Hop elements. Benjamin credits his continued success in recovery to his ability to express his emotions through word and song.

Benjamin has had the pleasure of performing for the National Academy of Medicine and The Aspen Institute. In 2019, he was the composer-in-residence at 1761 Arts, and he made his Carnegie Hall debut as part of the Indie Collaborative in 2022. His debut album, CLEAN, was released in February 2020 and produced by Old Mill Road Recording in East Arlington, Vermont.

Building on that foundation, Benjamin’s artistic journey has continued to evolve. He now oversees a dedicated online recovery community of over 300,000 social media followers. Over 150 million total video views on his recovery content serve as a testament to the widespread support for his advocacy and music.

Benjamin’s most recent EPs, KEEP MOVING FORWARD (2024) and RUN TOWARDS THE TRUTH (2025), were crafted as a direct response to that outpouring of online support. The inspiration behind their names is rooted in the sign-off from Benjamin’s CLEAN Column, a serialized, autobiographical recovery column that ran in the Vermont News Guide from January 2020 through January 2025:

“Keep moving forward.

Run towards the truth.

Don’t quit before the miracle happens.”

The upcoming third EP in the trilogy, DON'T QUIT BEFORE THE MIRACLE HAPPENS, is currently slated for release later this year.

Benjamin also hosts the recovery rap radio show, CLEAN Jams, on the legendary Vermont alternative radio station, 102.7 WEQX.

Benjamin is currently working on his second full length album at Old Mill Road Recording in East Arlington, Vermont. benjaminlerner.com

About Barrington Stage Company:

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), under the leadership of Artistic Director Alan Paul, is an award-winning theatre located in Pittsfield, MA, in the heart of the Berkshires. Co-founded in 1995 by Julianne Boyd, BSC’s mission is to produce top-notch, compelling work; to develop new plays and musicals; and to engage our community with vibrant, inclusive educational outreach programs. BSC attracts over 60,000 patrons annually and has gained national recognition for its superior-quality productions and comprehensive educational programming. BSC develops and commissions new work with two programs: PlayWorks and the Musical Theatre Lab. Since 1995, BSC has produced 46 new works, 22 of which have moved to New York and major U.S. regional theatres. The company has become integral to the economic revitalization of downtown Pittsfield. BSC is the recipient of 14 Berkshire Theatre Awards for the 2024 season, including Outstanding Production of a Musical for Next to Normal, directed by Alan Paul. barringtonstageco.org

About The George B. Crane Memorial Center:

In its 15th year, The George B. Crane Memorial Center (GBCMC), located at 81 Linden Street in Pittsfield, is a walk-in center and a safe gathering space for adults and families who are in any stage of recovery. Anyone seeking assistance with access to care, housing support, jobs, schooling, volunteering, financial stability, and building a support network can stop by to make a plan. They will help them make calls, connect with providers, receive a warm-hand-off directly to a location and so much more. Peer recovery groups meet at GBCMC morning, noon, and night 365 days a year. In addition, the center hosts BIPOC Voices in Recovery, the Women’s Table, Art for Recovery, community events and its annual Feet on the Street event for introducing community members with local hands-on agencies who meet people where they are at. thegbcmc.org

About Living in Recovery:

The mission at Living in Recovery is to create a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone seeking recovery. They are dedicated to fostering a safe, peaceful, and non-judgmental space for individuals, their families, friends, and allies affected by addiction. livinginrecoverypittsfield.org